The growth of online retailers have made it easier for buyers to find what they are looking for but more difficult to do so while doing business locally. As a result, there have been a few changes in the way retailers and service providers do business.
Some local merchants have discovered ways to create an online presence while also extending their inventories far beyond what they stock in their local stores. These include (in no particular order):
AllisonAmy Jewelry
Ferndale True Value Hardware
Ferndale Ace Hardware
Find Your Fashion (& Again)
Excel Physical Therapy
Lenny’s Bike Shop
Jensen Floral
RiteAid
Dollar Tree
O’Reilly Auto Parts
Benjamin Moore Paint
Some local restaurants have partnered with Viking Food North to provide online ordering with delivery. They include
Click for more information
Click for more informationMazatlan
Cedars Restaurant
Curry House
Nopal
Main Street Bar & Grill
While more shoppers turning to online resources has created a big challenge for brick-and-mortar retailers, it also created an opportunity for businesses who are looking to sell online without the expense of a storefront. One such local retailer that recently launched online is TayaRanay.com.
TayaRanay Owner Taya Somes says she started filling a spare room in her home with women’s clothing inventory and took photographs of each product on her front porch. Then she made it all available to be purchased at TayaRanay.com. According to Somes, “In just a few months, we have seen steady growth and lots of interest.”
Somes said running an online retail business is a good fit for her. “We have 5 children and I wanted to be able to work from home and help with extra income,” Somes said.
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Click for more informationOther retailers, craftspeople and artisans who are not interested in setting up a stand-alone website have made use of existing services such as Amazon, eBay and Etsy to make their products available online. In some cases, shoppers can search for merchants in the Ferndale area.
Local service providers have turned to online resources to make it more convenient to do business with them. For instance, the following allow customers to book appointments online anytime:
Ye Old Barber
Upper Cut Salon
Whatcom Family Acupuncture
Gentle Acupuncture
Ferndale Vision Source
If you call Ferndale True Value at 360-384-1804 (The Store), or me directly, 360-220-7374 (my personal number for personal service), we can order the item for you. (I will promptly reply to voice and emails). If you order online from the TrueValue website, sadly, the local store is bypassed by Corporate True Value. It is a corporate push which doesn’t benefit the local store, but is convenient for you, the customer. While we will always give you the best customer service, we don’t actually make the sale, and profits leave your city. If you want to keep business local, then please call the store, or me, or email ferndaletruevalue@gmail.com or me ducatibonnie@gmail.com with the sku numbers/descriptions from the website. (Copy/Paste works great) I will get your order to you fast and we all win.
Thank you for keeping your business in Ferndale–despite the light…
Bonnie Giles
Employee Ferndale True Value